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thefourthman wrote:we'll never know because it didn't happen. I think Unwritten and this book see better sales then they would have as a result of the price.

People seem to like SWORD, a lot. The third issue just hit the stands with the announcement that 5 was it.

With the FOC system, #3 is the settle down point. If it had a #1 that was only a dollar it would probably have another issue before the attrition would have forced the hand and that is another issue for word of mouth to get out.

I know that you are going to say it sucks and that is why it is cancelled, but you know what? I genuinely don't think anyone puts out comics that they think suck and some people like books you don't. Giving them an edge in the market place can only be a good thing, regardless of any other issues the book may have.

doombug wrote:i seriously have to use quick reply just to post in this thread.

charging 3.99 for one shot or an annual is no big deal.

for a mini or a new ongoing it's fucking insane.

I also kind of agree with this. I think if the mini or new ongoing is about a lower level character, like Brother Voodoo, and is by a creative team that isn't one of the biggest then it's insane. However if it's a big thing like Blackest Night or has a high profile team like Morrison and Quietly or Bendis and Copiel it makes sense. With books that don't have a Batman or a Bendis type of draw, you need to give it more advantages to get it out to the public.

rdrsfn82 wrote:I also kind of agree with this. I think if the mini or new ongoing is about a lower level character, like Brother Voodoo, and is by a creative team that isn't one of the biggest then it's insane. However if it's a big thing like Blackest Night or has a high profile team like Morrison and Quietly or Bendis and Copiel it makes sense. With books that don't have a Batman or a Bendis type of draw, you need to give it more advantages to get it out to the public.

Punchy wrote:I never said it wouldn't help, I just think that $3.99 for a #1 issue doesn't hurt, both SWORD #1 and Doctor Voodoo #1 were over-sized after all.

The reasons for those 2 books cancellation are more than price, it's the fact that they star D-List characters and are by new writers.

Joe The Barbarian is by Grant Morrison, Unwritten is by Mike Carey, established names with a following.

Mike Carey isn't nearly the name that a guy like Bendis or Morrison or Johns is. He's a guy with a small following and the $1 first issue was a major selling point.

Also, The Unwritten had a 40 page first issue for $1. If Marvel had done oversized first issues for $1 for SWORD and Doctor Voodoo, they would have sold more issues and maybe more people would have stayed with the book.

rdrsfn82 wrote:Mike Carey isn't nearly the name that a guy like Bendis or Morrison or Johns is. He's a guy with a small following and the $1 first issue was a major selling point.

Also, The Unwritten had a 40 page first issue for $1. If Marvel had done oversized first issues for $1 for SWORD and Doctor Voodoo, they would have sold more issues and maybe more people would have stayed with the book.

I'd say he's only a little bigger than Remender, honestly. Carey has done some X-Men stuff, Remender has done some Punisher stuff. Remender has some really well liked but low selling indy stuff, Carey is the same. Carey is where Remender will be in 2 or 3 years. Carey has more in common with him than with Morrison or Bendis or Johns or whatever.

rdrsfn82 wrote:I'd say he's only a little bigger than Remender, honestly. Carey has done some X-Men stuff, Remender has done some Punisher stuff. Remender has some really well liked but low selling indy stuff, Carey is the same. Carey is where Remender will be in 2 or 3 years. Carey has more in common with him than with Morrison or Bendis or Johns or whatever.

He's got a big following at Vertigo, he did Lucifer for 70 or so issues, when the team behind that book launch a new Vertigo ongoing... then it's a big deal.

Vertigo lets a lot of books hang around even if they aren't huge sellers and have other books that sell better and don't last as long. 70 issues is a good accomplishment, but it's not something that means it was selling amazingly. And even if it was an easier sell, that's more reason to charge more, not to charge $1. Saying the $1 price point wasn't a big part of why the first issue sold so much is silly. Of course it helped sell more issues.

rdrsfn82 wrote:Vertigo lets a lot of books hang around even if they aren't huge sellers and have other books that sell better and don't last as long. 70 issues is a good accomplishment, but it's not something that means it was selling amazingly. And even if it was an easier sell, that's more reason to charge more, not to charge $1. Saying the $1 price point wasn't a big part of why the first issue sold so much is silly. Of course it helped sell more issues.

I never said it didn't, I just think that Mike Carey is a big enough name to also have had an effect.

rdrsfn82 wrote:Also, The Unwritten had a 40 page first issue for $1. If Marvel had done oversized first issues for $1 for SWORD and Doctor Voodoo, they would have sold more issues and maybe more people would have stayed with the book.

Not entering the debate but S.W.O.R.D. #1 was larger than normal wasn't it, it had the back-up with art by McKelvie which dealt with the conclusion from one of the best selling comics of recent times (Astonishing X-men).